Snubs almost broke Stephen Glass - now he's back

STEPHEN GLASS is heading for the North American Soccer League - but the former Hibs star insists his career has gone anywhere but west.

After a heartbreaking 18-month search for a new club, the 34-year-old midfielder has been snapped up by Carolina RailHawks where former Hearts defender Paul Ritchie is assistant to Scottish-born coach Martin Rennie.

And as he looks forward to a new season on the east coast of the United States, Glass is determined to prove wrong all those who have written him off, believing a career which encompassed Aberdeen, Newcastle United, Watford, Hibs, Dunfermline and Scotland had been ended by a knee injury.

Only 19 when he was named as man-of-the match as the Dons last lifted a major trophy, the Coca-Cola Cup in 1995, before appearing in an FA Cup final with Newcastle, Glass insists too many were quick to reckon he was well past his sell-by-date, his name and reputation counting for little as he attempted to convince them there was still plenty more to come.

The reason for his months of anguish lay in a knee injury sustained in training just days after he proudly led the Pars out on the opening day of last season, a campaign which ended with him being released by the Fife outfit. Glass's plea that he was as fit as the afternoon when he set up both goals in Aberdeen's 2-0 win over Dundee - his performances at Pittodrie led to Kenny Dalglish signing him to provide the ammunition for Alan Shearer - fell on deaf ears. It got to the point where some even refused to pick up the phone when he called, messages left remained unreturned.

Yes, there were opportunities to go part-time, offers which Glass rejected, convinced he was still capable of playing not only full-time at a decent level if only someone was prepared to take that chance.

Stubborn he might have been, but today, as he awaits the visa which will open the latest chapter in his career, Glass insisted the wait had been worthwhile, the Dundonian impatiently counting down the days until the season begins on April 9.

However, as he prepares to cross the Atlantic, Glass revealed he won't only remember those who turned their back on him but the support he received from Hibs as he was made welcome on a daily basis at their East Mains Training Centre.

He explained: "I knew big Sol Bamba from my days with Dunfermline so I approached John Hughes through him and was delighted to be offered training facilities. I'd spent a while training with St Mirren thanks to Danny Lennon but I'd found myself running round the park and there's only so much of that you can do by yourself."

Glass admitted he'll remain eternally grateful to Hughes for his generosity, and equally so to new Hibs boss Colin Calderwood, revealing the former Scotland defender's willingness to allow him to train with his first team squad merely served to underline his belief he still had much to offer.

He said: "Yes, it was a worry when Yogi left and Colin came in. I'd have understood perfectly had he said 'sorry,' that I was no longer welcome. I knew Colin vaguely but he was coming in as a new manager with a squad of players to assess and he might not have wanted an outsider who he felt shouldn't be there.

"But the fact that, like Yogi, he was more than happy to have me train with his first team squad was an indication that I was still fit and good enough for it, I wasn't just someone who had come in off the streets."

As much as he enjoyed the daily routine of training and the dressingroom banter, Glass admitted it was hard to give his all Monday to Friday and then watch the players who had accepted him again as one of them head off to play on a Saturday while he was left to his own devices.

Those afternoons weren't wasted, though, with Glass working for both the BBC and STV as well as operating as a co-commentator for Hibernian Television, opening up the possibility of a new career in the media.

Football, however, remained unfinished business and although he concedes there were days when he simply felt like "chucking it", he persevered, returning to Carolina in January for a trial having impressed during a short stay with the RailHawks last summer, former Dunfermline team-mate Greg Shields having paved the way.

He said: "I did think about calling it a day. When people stop answering the phone to you and don't return your calls, you start to wonder. You aren't looking for favours, but you do expect a bit of courtesy.

"However, I felt I'd be letting the people who believed in me down. I thought it would be criminal of me to stop even although there was nothing for me. I honestly feel I was someone with a fairly decent reputation but was simply 'tagged" as being injury-prone having missed all of last season, but nothing could have been further from the truth.

"I just knew there would be something somewhere. There were some part-time offers but I felt I could stay full-time. It was a gamble, but I feel I have done the right thing and it has paid off."

That somewhere turned out to be thousands of miles away, Glass looking forward to getting back into action, anxious to dispel any notion he's viewing his American adventure as a chance to wind down his career, so much so he points out that their season will finish in November, leaving him free to return to Scotland his fitness and ability proved all over again. He said: "When I went there last summer I think the coach was surprised but he asked me to go back in January for a trial.

"With his Scottish connections I think he knew my background while I am sure Paul Ritchie would have known people to check me out. It's a good place to live but the one thing I have told the RailHawks is that I am not going there just to play out time. I feel I can do well, I have been training and working hard with Hibs. I've missed something like 18 months despite having been fit throughout this season and I just want to get playing again."

And with ambitions to become a manager himself one day, Glass insisted he won't forget his personal nightmare. He said: "It's been interesting to see how people handle themselves, some put themselves in the media as being approachable, good guys then don't give you the courtesy of answering your call.

"I've seen how you should treat people, whether you want them or not but I'll remember those who have helped, those who have given me a chance."